journal

Early Morning Cottage View: This is What Surrendering Looks Like

Posted by Barbara Techel

IMG_2193 (The view outside my writing cottage at 6:15am this morning)

Okay, some of you committee members in my head need to go on vacation. I’ve had about all I need to hear from you for a good, long time. You’ve been heard. I acknowledge you. Now find yourself a peaceful place to reside.

As I closed my eyes last night, I asked those pestering and loud members that seem to reside on the left side of my brain to please take a break.

The members on the right side of my brain, where it is so much more peaceful, raised their white flags as a symbol to the left side that they have been heard. We surrender — meaning we don’t have the answers for you, but that we understand your role in the community.

The community and its committee members that make up the whole of who I am. Me, Barbara Techel. All these parts, the good and the bad, the frustrating and the peaceful, the happy and the sad, each member important to my evolution of growth.

But the committee members who want immediate answers to life’s challenges have been making way too much noise lately. So I surrender to them. I see you. I hear you. But now it is time for you to see and hear what the other members in the committee have to share.

And so I surrendered as I drifted off to sleep last night… to more peace, joy and honoring of self.

As I stepped out of my bedroom patio doors heading for my writing cottage this morning, I realized my prayers from the night before were heard.

“” See,” the right and creative side of my committee members said to the left side members, there is peace when you surrender.

The proof and the only answer you need is right before you. A new dawn.

When you surrender to not having to know all the answers, the answer reveals itself in the light and promise of  a new day — a new day to live in peace and joy, and the true whispers of your heart.

What’s that I hear from all my committee members? Ahhhh, silence. Welcome, and please stay a good long while.

As always, I welcome your comments…

PS:  The winner of Dawn’s book, Dreaming with Polar Bears is Catherine.  I’ve sent you an email Catherine, for your mailing address. Congratulations!  And thank you to everyone who left comments!

Pretty Verses Beautiful… and P.S. I’m Still Here and Not Going Anywhere!

Posted by Barbara Techel

kylie looking out s

First and foremost, I just want to apologize for scaring some of you yesterday with my post that said I was saying goodbye and what sounded like I would no longer be here writing.

But, whew, as you did come to discover as you read my post, I decided to now call this place I call home for my writing on the big wide world web, my journal, instead of my blog. It really speaks so much to the heart of who I am and how I want to expand on what I share here with you.

I must say though, you all warmed my heart with your comments and your enthusiasm for my new beginnings in calling this my journal. A place where yes, I’ll continue to share what I learn from my animals, but also will delve into other topics that intrigue me, and yes, sometimes wake me at night and keep me awake all night long!

Like many, I have oodles of thoughts that go through this head of mine every day. Sometimes it is quite noisy in here, so writing helps me get it out. In the process, it is my hope to continue to inspire and encourage you and others to listen more often to your own inner voice and live from that place that is authentically you — because I believe that when you do, you create a meaningful life for yourself.

So without further ado, I wanted to share one of my random thoughts that came to me at five this morning.

Words can mean so many different things to so many different people. I was thinking of the word pretty verses the word beautiful.

What instantly came to mind is that beautiful seems to encompass so much more than the word pretty.  In some ways the word pretty seems superficial to me.

When I think of someone who is beautiful, being pretty can play into it, but most often it is who they are as a whole – when I can see someones inner light glowing from the inside, out. Someone whose character speaks to the truth of who they are. That they aren’t concerned with the outside worlds thoughts, but following what it is that brings them joy.  This is so beautiful when you get to see this in someone.

Thinking back to my younger days in my 20s and 30s, I so wish I had understood the wisdom of beautiful and hadn’t got so caught up in society’s standard of pretty, trying to achieve and maintain that. It was exhausting.

My English yellow Labrador, Kylie, is another definition of beautiful to me. While yes, I think she is quite pretty, but then I may be biased (grin), I also see her soul when I look into her eyes.

And even better?  I feel her soul which is all about gentleness, kindness, sweetness, forgiveness, and love. She exudes it every moment of every day.

But when I see someone who I know is living from the heart of who they are there is nothing more beautiful, I think. It makes me think of artist, Marie Wulf. I admire her greatly not only for her deep love of all animals, but how she moves to the beat of her own drum. Every time I see a photo of her, I can see her true, inner light. It makes me smile and encourages me to continue to be who I am.

My artist friend, Marie is another person I think is beautiful because she is so, well, so Marie! I also think of Kathryn Hepburn, artists, Katie Daisy and Brianna Brunsell, and so many more.

And then it surely does go to the saying that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” But I think it worth giving thought to what it is we find beautiful and when we do, I think it helps lead us down the path of what it is that matters most. At least this has, and continues to be the case for me.

The more I let the loud noise of society’s expectations and definitions of pretty and beautiful fade away, the more my inner world matches my outer world, and I see beauty in a way that adds to my definition of living a meaningful life.

Please feel free to leave a comment…

Saying Goodbye to Joyful Paws “Blog”

Posted by Barbara Techel

IMG_2186

I was up early this morning and caught this photo of the moon as I looked out the west side of my writing cottage window. Two words on my brain lately are New Beginnings. Capturing this photo spoke that to me.

Speaking of new beginnings…I’m saying goodbye to Joyful Paws blog. Before you panic and think I’m leaving you, my dear readers, rest assured, that is not the case. I adore each of you for being a part of my life!

As I continue to evolve in my creativity, I recently came across an article that really spoke to me titled, “The Trouble with Blogging.” Writer, Esme, talks about how “blogging is something that, according to hundreds of self-proclaimed online experts, has definitive best practices.” She also mentions how it is also plays into SEO search results and achieving the goal of others signing up for your newsletters, buying your courses or services.

Ever since I began writing, first for my local paper, and then taking it online, and writing my books, it has always been about making a difference. I’ve been about encouraging and inspiring others. This is what matters to me. It also matters to me to leave a positive legacy behind.

While yes, I welcome those reading my thoughts to check out what else I have to offer, I also truly enjoy coming to my little spot right here on the wide world web several times a week to write. I don’t necessarily have a “set” schedule of days I will share something, but I can say, I look so forward to coming here often.

The past seven years my writing has been about how animals play a huge part in my life, helping me to become the person I am today. That remains and I have a pretty strong feeling it always will.  Animals are such an important part of my soul and who I am!

But I feel like I’ve evolved over time, incorporating writing about other ideas and thoughts that intrigue or inspire me, of which I’ve been sharing here on my website (with my built in blog) for awhile now.

I’ve also been giving thought to the fact that I don’t always like to go with the flow of how things “should” be, but rather, what feels right for me, and speaks to the heart of who I am.

I’ve learned so much from a mentor of mine and many on-line classes I’ve taken from him for the past three years. It also goes back to my being coached in 2005 and taking the time to give thought to how I want to play a part in this world.

Making a difference. Building Meaningful Relationships. Leaving a Legacy. This is what is so important to me.

Maybe this is a huge round about way of sharing something that might seem quite simple in regards to the change of a mere word, but for me it encompasses a lot of depth of how I want to continue to evolve in what is authentically me.

So I’m saying goodbye to the word blog.  I will now call this place of my own, with you my faithful readers who come to visit me, Joyful Paws Journal. Because I consider this a place to express my personal thoughts and encourage others to pause and listen to their inner voice, and embrace the wisdom of our animal friends to live a more meaningful life. I also especially love Esme’s definition of journal which is — A journal is something that permits, and often expects, experimentation.

And when I think of experimentation it brings up the words creativity and play for me. Writing is that for me and also how I can share freely what it is I wish to express.

So WELCOME to Joyful Paws Journal, those who have faithfully followed me for years, and those new here. I appreciate and value each and every one of you… and here’s to New Beginnings.

Please feel free to leave a comment…